Animal cage



A. L. PORTER ANIMAL CAGE .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. l5, '1961 INVENTOR. Biff/VN L P0@ 75K M 'fiA/EY A. L. PORTER Dec. 8, 1964 ANIMAL CAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. l5, 1961 fran/fr DCC 8 1964 A. l.. PORTER 3,160,140

ANIMAL CAGE:

origina; Filed Aug. 15, 1961 5 sheets-sheet s IN 1r 1" up f Il 7! 1.32 f4 ,EIJI

t l m" mi E 9,3? ff iidnuull INV EN TOR.

Eff/w L Pam-EK United States Patent O 3,160,140 ANB/IAL CAGE v Ann L. Porter, Princeton, NJ., assigner to Porter- Mathews Company, Inc., a corporation o New `ersey Continuation of application Ser. No. 331,586, Aug. 15, 196i. This appiication .iniy 12, 1963, Ser. No. 295,599 13 Claims. (Ci. 1119-1@ This invention relates to a cage particularly useful for kennels and laboratories and more particularly intended for use for cats.

The present application is a continuation ot my pending application, Serial No. 131,586, led August 15, 1961, now abandoned, for an improvement in an animal cage.

One of the problems in caging cats is -to provide su'iciently large living quarters as well as service quarters occupying a minimum of space and to provide an area where the animal may rest.

A further problem is to provide means permitting ac-f cess to either of the quarters while at the same time preventing escape of the animal.

Other problems involve preventing food and other matter from being discharged from the bottom of the cage by the animal. it is also desirable to provide means for permitting food containers .to be removed and replaced without opening the cage. Proper ventilation is another desirable feature but it is also necessary to insure that contamination between cages is reduced to a minimum.

lt is therefore ian object of my invention to provide a cage of simple and rugged construction which provides the maximum room for living quarters and which utilizes the minimum of space for service quarters.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a cage in which access to elements such as feeding bowls and cleanout drawers or trays can be had 'without the necessity of completely opening the cage in the process.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a cage which, in addition to providing a desirable sleeping area, is a part of the outside of the service area thus utilizing space to a maximum.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cage which has means for preventing food and other matter from being discharged from the bottom of the cage.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cage which, while providing the maximum of ventilation, provides protection against contamination between cages.

Briey, in accordance with my invention, I provide a rectangularly shaped box-like cage in which the service quarters occupy a minimum of space and comprises a partition having an opening for access between service and living quarters as well as a top shelf which encloses the service quarters and also provides a sleeping area for the animal. One part ofthe living quarters is closedy by an open mesh door which removably supports one or more feeding bowls which can be removed without opening the door. The other portion of the cage is closed by means of a sliding panel which when partially raised will maintain the living quarters of the cage closed but permit removal of the drawer in the service compartment. The bottom of the cage is open along two sides sufficiently to permit vventilation and is provided with deiiectors around the lower perimeter to prevent discharge of food and other matter from the cage. The ventilation openings are below the deilectors.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the cage assembly in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a lett-hand perspective of the cage drawn on a reduced scale with doors open as viewed from the lefthand side; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the cage drawn on a reduced scale with doors open las viewed from the right-hand side.

3,i6b,li iatented Dec. 8,' 195.4

ICC

Referring to the drawings, the cage comprises a frame 1t? closed at the sides and rear by means of panels 11, 12, 13 and 14. The front of the cage is closed by means of door 15 having an extruded mesh thereacross. The righthand portion of the cageis closed by means of the sliding panel 17 received withinwslide guides and supports 18. Panel 17 and supports 18'have a frictional relationship permitting selective positioning of the sliding panel or door 1'7. The panel 17 m-ay be provided with a card holder 19 for identification purposes. v

The cage is designed and constructed to have two compartments. One compartment provides Athe living quarters and the other compartment provides the service quarters. The service quarters arevformed by means of apartition 25 and a shelf Z which may be made of wood or other like material. The partition 25 is provided with an opening 27 through which the animal may pass vbetween the The opening 27 may be closed by meansy two quarters. or" the sliding closure member 2,8 mountedin and having frictional engagement with guides or tracks 46 and 47 when it is desired to separate the two compartments for cleaning or other purposes.

Removably mounted on the door 15 are supporting brackets or frames 31 and 32 for supporting the feeding and watering bowls or receptacles 29; and 3@ which are removably retained in place by means of spring members 33 and 3ft. This permits removal of bowls without opening the door. y

Dellectors 36, 37 and 38 are provided at the bottom of panels ii, 13 and partition 25 for deilecting food and other material into the shelfor drawer 40. The bottom of the panels il, 13 are spaced from the bottom of the cage and are tilted inwardly to provide openings 42 and (t3 for Ventilation and to prevent food and other matter from being thrown from the cage. Shelf 40 may be removed wit'nout opening any of the doors.

In addition to drawer 40, a second drawer 41 is provided in the service quarters and is removable for cleaning purposes. i

The above-described construction provides maximum living quarters for the animal which is caged and also,

provides a sleeping area white at the same time utilizing the minimum of space for service quarters. More room for living activities of animals, particularly cats,`encour ages them to feed properly. The slide in the opening to the service quarters makes it possible to conne the animal to either compartment when it is desired to open the otherl The advantage of the slide door at the divided into two compartments providing a living quarters p and a service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side communicatingwith said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted on one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above the service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door, to permit eslective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of the front of said cage, a feeding bowl mounted on said last door,

o nl', said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said last door.

2.`A cage including aV rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a side panel having an opening providing communication between the service quarters and the living quarters, said service quarters being closed at the top by a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, the service compartment occupying only a corner of said cage, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment,y means on said cagey frictionally engaging said slidable door, to permit selective positioningof said slidable door, a door for closing the `front of the rest of said cage, a removable feeding bowl mounted on said last door, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said last door. v

3. A cage including Aa rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living qu-arters and a service quarters, said service quarters includ-ing a side panel having an opening for communication between said service quarters and said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated retsing place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door, to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, the service compartment occuppying only a corner of said cage, a door for closing the rest of said cage, ref movable feeding bowls mounted on said last door and removable without opening said door, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable Without opening said last door, and a slide for closing the opening in said panel.

4. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side l communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the larea above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door, to permit selective positioning of said slidable door,

a ldoor for closing the rest of said cage, said living quar? ters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said door, the front and top of said cage being of mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels.

5. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two camporatments providing a living quarters and service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having `an opening on one side communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service` compartment, a vertically slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above the shelf of said service oom,-

partment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, avdoor for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said last door, the front and top of said cage beingof mesh mate rial and the sides and back being of solid panels, one side panel and part of the back panel terminating short of the bottom of the cage to provide Ventilating openings and inwardly extending deliectors fastened at Atheir' tops to a side panel, back panel and one side of said service compartmeut adjacent the bottom of said cage.

6. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage dividedvinto two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a vertically slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidables helf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said last door, the front and top of said cage being of mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels.

7. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in said service compartment, a vertically slidable door slidably mounted at one side'of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said liv-ing quar ters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom there= of and removable without opening said last door, the

' front and top of said cage being of mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels, said service cornpartment including a part of one side panel and a part of the bottom of the cage and occupying one corner of said cage.

8. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like 'cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters aud a service quarters, said `service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and Iproviding an elevated resting place, a slidablev drawer slidably mounted in 'said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment andL the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit `selective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said last door, said last door 'and top of said cage beingrof mesh material and the sidesV and back 'being of solid panels, one of said panels and a part of said back panel terminating short of the bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings, and deflectors at the bottom of said Dit living quarters, the lower ends of which are spaced from the bottom of the cage.

9. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a compartment having an opening on one side communicating with said living quarters, said service compartment having a top providing `a sleeping shelf, the tarea above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, Va slidable ydrawer slidably mounted in the bottom of said service compartment, =a vertically slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, slide guide means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said door, said last door and top of said cage being of mesh materia-l and the sides and back being of solid panels, one of said panels and a part of said back panel terminating short of the bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings', and deiiectors at the bottom of said living quarters, the lower ends of which are spaced from the bottom `of the cage.

l0. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a side panel having an opening therein to provide communication between said service quarters and said living quarters, the service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said she-1f being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in the bottom of said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above Said service compartment, slide guide means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door torpermit selective positioning of said slidable door, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without `opening said door, said last door and top of said cage being of mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels, one of said panels and a part of said back panel terminating short of the bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings, and deilectors at the bottom of said living quarters, the lower ends of which are spaced from the bottom of the cage, and a sliding door for the opening in the side panel of 'compartment providing the service quarters.

ll. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters `and a service quarters, said service quarters including a. side panel having 'an opening therein to provide communication between said service quarters and said living quarters, the service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in the bottom of said service compartment, a slidable door slidafbly mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, said slidable door providing means for maintaining the space above the sleeping shelf closed while permit-ting the service compartment to be opened while cleaning the service compartment, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable -without opening said door, said last door and top of said cage being of mesh materia-l and the sides and back being yof solid panels, one of said panels and a part of said back panel terminating short ofthe bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings, and deiiectors at the bottom of said living quarters, the lower ends `of which are spaced from the bottom of the cage, anda sliding door for-the opening in the side panel of said compartment providing the service quarters. f

12. A cage including ya rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a side panel having an opening therein to provide communication between said service quarters and said living quarters, the service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, a slidable drawer slidably mounted in the bottom of said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space abo-ve said service compartment, slide guide means on said tube frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, said slidable door providing means for maintaining the space above the sleeping shelf closed ywhile permitting the service compartment to be opened while cleaning the service compartment, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said door, said last door and top of said cage being yof mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels, one of said panels 'and a part of said back panel extending from said service compartment to the panel spaced from said Service compartment terminating short of the bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings, and deflectors at the bottom of said living quarters, the lower ends of which are spaced from the bottom of the cage, and a sliding door for the opening in the side panel of said compartment providing the service quarters.

13. A cage including a rectangularly shaped box-like cage divided into two compartments providing a living quarters and a service quarters, said service quarters including a side panel having an opening therein to provide communication between said service quarters and said living quarters, the service compartment having a top providing a sleeping shelf, the area above said shelf being in open communication with said living quarters and providing an elevated resting place, la slid-able drawer slidably mounted in the bottom of said service compartment, a slidable door slidably mounted at one side of said cage for closing the service compartment and the space above said service compartment, means on said cage frictionally engaging said slidable door to permit selective positioning of said slidable door, said slidable door providing means for maintaining the space above the sleeping shelf closed while permitting the service compartment to be opened while cleaning the service compartment, a door for closing the rest of said cage, said living quarters having a slidable shelf mounted at the bottom thereof and removable without opening said door, said last door yand top of said cage being of mesh material and the sides and back being of solid panels, one of said panels and a part of said 'back panel extending from said service compartment to the panel spaced from said service compartment terminating short of the bottom of said cage to provide Ventilating openings, and deectors at the bottom of said living quarters, the lower ends of which are spaced from the bottom of the cage, and a sliding door for the opening in the side panel of said compartment providing the service quarters, the door closing the rest of the cage having an elongated opening therein, supporting brackets extending inwardly of said last door adjacent said opening for receiving removable containers, and resilient means extending across said opening for engaging and retaining said containers on said supporting brackets whereby said containers may be readily removed and replaced.

(References on following page) VV' g Y References Cited by the Examiner 2,653,569 9/ 5 3 Forester 1 19-18 UNITED STATE PATENTS 2,655,129' 10/53 Miller 11g-17 *s 2,932,279 4/60 Giles 119-15 7/ 29 Kgufman 119--18 Y lg; ylet al g-ll 5 SAMUEL KOKEN, Primary Examiner.

1 1ns1on 1 Exllllle. 

1. A CAGE INCLUDING A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BOX-LIKE CAGE DIVIDED INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS PROVIDING A LIVING QUARTERS AND A SERVICE QUARTERS, AND SERVICE QUARTERS INCLIDING A COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPENING ON ONE SIDE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LIVING QUARTERS, SAID SERVICE COMPARTMENT HAVING A TOP PROVIDING A SHELF, THE AREA ABOVE SAID SHELF BEING IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID LIVING QUARTERS AND PROVIDING AN ELEVATED RESTING PLACE, A SLIDABLE DRAWER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SERVICE COMPARTMENT, A SLIDABLE DOOR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CAGE FOR CLOSING THE SERVICE COMPARTMENT AND THE SPACE ABOVE THE SERVICE COMPARTMENT, MEANS ON SAID CAGE FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID SLIDABLE DOOR, TO PERMIT ESLECTIVE POSITIONING OF SAID SLIDABLE DOOR, A DOOR FOR CLOSING THE REST OF THE FRONT OF SAID CAGE, A FEEDING BOWL MOUNTED ON SAID LAST DOOR, SAID LIVING QUARTERS HAVING A SLIDABLE SHELF MOUNTED AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND REMOVABLE WITHOUT OPENING SAID LAST DOOR. 